New Delhi: JD(U) president Sharad Yadav stoked a controversy on Thursday when he made outrageous comments about South Indian women during a debate on the Insurance Bill. It started when Mr Yadav began his rant against the “Indian obsession with fair skin” and went on to make comments against women in general, and those from South India in particular, by talking about “their body and dance”.

As Mr Sharad Yadav continued the speech on the Insurance Bill in Parliament, DMK MP K. Kanimozhi interrupted him and condemned his remarks on women. He said they were unacceptable. However, Mr Yadav was unrelenting as he told the DMK MP "every discussion in Parliament need not be serious".

Trinamul Congress member Derek O’Brien was seen waving his hands to silence him, while many leaders asked Mr Yadav to come back to the topic of the Insurance Bill.

However, Mr Yadav continued with his speech and referred to women.

The latest remarks evoked condemnation with YSRCP MP from Kurnool B. Renuka telling this newspaper that no one expected "such irresponsible" comments from a leader like Mr Sharad Yadav. "This is simply unacceptable and disgusting. It is not expected from a senior leader like him.

Such comments against women simply have no place in society. Being a senior leader, he should not have made such comments against women. And why are we taking about South Indians and North Indians," she said, adding, "If we Indians ourselves starting talking about south and north, how can we prevent racism in other countries? And making such a statement against women is unacceptable."

Mr Yadav’s colleague in the Rajya Sabha, senior CPI leader D. Raja, wondered why the JD(U) chief had to speak in such language. "We don’t know why he had to make such a remark. The Rajya Sabha was discussing the Insurance Bill," he said.

While Congress leader Rajiv Shukla demanded that Mr Yadav apologise, CPI(M) leader Brinda Karat said it was "shocking and highly objectionable". "These remarks should be expunged and not allowed," she said.

Despite the outrage, Mr Yadav refused to withdraw the remarks, asking "what was wrong" in what he had said.